Ins. Code, § 700 · Article 3. Certificate of Authority
Ins. Code, § 700
Text — As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
(a) A person shall not transact any class of insurance business in this state without first being admitted for that class. Except for the State Compensation Insurance Fund as authorized by Sections 11770 and 11778 to 11780.5, inclusive, admission is secured by procuring a certificate of authority from the commissioner. The certificate shall not be granted until the applicant conforms to the requirements of this code and of the laws of this state prerequisite to its issue.
(b) The unlawful transaction of insurance business in this state in willful violation of the requirement for a certificate of authority is a public offense punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, and shall be enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction on petition of the commissioner.
(c) After the issuance of a certificate of authority, the holder shall continue to comply with the requirements as to its business set forth in this code and in the other laws of this state, including, but not limited to, Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1631), with regard to employees or contractors who solicit, negotiate, or effect insurance.
(d) Where a hearing is held under this section the proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the commissioner shall have all the powers granted therein.
(e) The commissioner shall either issue or deny an application for a certificate of authority within 180 calendar days after the date of the application.
(f) The commissioner and his or her authorized representative shall be prohibited from seeking a waiver to extend the 180 calendar day period specified in subdivision (e), nor shall the applicant be permitted to waive that period.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 205. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
- Official file
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=INS§ionNum=700.
- Text hash
- sha256 48fe31df3ebdda3a915ddb017c023cb148121fd17a89f4ceac0318a06283d8d0
- Composed by
- compose_ca.py 2026-10-22: the Legislative Counsel's CAML content files read by a tokenizer (caml_readers.reader_a); an independent xml.etree reading (caml_readers.reader_b) agrees on every section
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Insurance Code
- Ins. Code, div. 1, pt. 2, ch. 5Production AgenciesPrinted as Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1631)
- Ins. Code, § 11770Printed as Sections 11770 and 11778 to 11780.5, inclusive
- Ins. Code, § 11778Printed as Sections 11770 and 11778 to 11780.5, inclusive
- Ins. Code, § 11780.5Printed as Sections 11770 and 11778 to 11780.5, inclusive
Cited by 12 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Ins. Code, § 700. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Business and Professions Code
Insurance Code
- Ins. Code, § 717.5Printed as Sections 700 and 717
- Ins. Code, § 1374.1Printed as Sections 700.01, 700.02, and 700
- Ins. Code, § 1758.67Printed as Section 700
- Ins. Code, § 1760.1Printed as Section 700
- Ins. Code, § 1761Printed as Section 700 or 703
- Ins. Code, § 4012Printed as Sections 100 through 123 and 700
- Ins. Code, § 10541Printed as Section 700
- Ins. Code, § 11778Printed as Section 700
- Ins. Code, § 12050Printed as Sections 700
Public Resources Code
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